FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Have you ever wondered why psychics exist?" Master Sunflare asked, sitting in a position I could only describe as 'enthroned' from across his desk. "Power." The word left the dragon's mouth, followed by a trail of white smoke, and I was sure his scales were faintly glowing, like red-hot metal. "Power is only bestowed upon those who are truly worthy."

The ‘lair’ of Master Sunflare was close to what I had imagined—various complex and intricate devices scattered around the room, occasionally humming with activity. If you looked a bit closer, you'd notice all sorts of strange objects placed rather haphazardly. I couldn't even begin to guess their functions, though their appearances alone were fascinating.

"From our limited interaction alone, I can tell you're not being treated the way you deserve." The dragon tilted his head, staring at me with one eye. "Not that I can blame them," Sunflare spread his claws slightly. "Survival instincts let creatures know that you are on an entirely different level." His spindle-shaped pupils contracted within the golden-red irises, becoming even sharper. "'We' are your true kin, and I believe you know that, too."

The room was warm, and the dragon's heated breath only added to the temperature. Yet, the message Sunflare was trying to convey chilled me to the bone.

I suppose the only silver lining of this "conversation" was that Master Sunflare clearly didn’t require any response from me.

"Those with power are the ones who truly shoulder the world, no matter how much those self-important fools like to delude themselves." As Sunflare scoffed at the "self-important fools," a small puff of flame shot out from his nostrils. Did I see that right? "Power creates order, order maintains rules, and rules dictate how the world should run. Without rules, the masses would be lost; without order, a blind world would fall apart." At first, I didn’t quite grasp it, but Sunflare had just blinked his nictitating membrane. "Therefore, it is the responsibility of those with power to lead."

I could withstand his scorching gaze, but I saw no point in matching it, so I shifted my attention to the long spear mounted on the wall behind him. Its appearance was exceedingly plain—no decorations, no ornate structure—just inscriptions running from the handle to the spindle-shaped spearhead.

It was clearly an adamantine weapon; even sitting here, I could feel a faint resonance emanating from it.

Thinking about it carefully, it would actually be strange for a shape-shifting weapon to have any decorative structures on it, wouldn’t it?

"…So, I think we can understand each other." The Master continued in a melodic voice, the only thing preventing me from falling asleep after his long, repetitive speech about the duties of those with power. "You want to 'build' with your abilities, don’t you?" The dragon straightened his posture, reminding me of how imposing his figure was. "Let me be your guide. I will show you how to raise a tower with unparalleled will, a tower that reaches the heavens." He dragged a claw across the desk, the melody of his voice forming images in my mind.

A slender wolf and a towering dragon, one as white as snow, the other as fiery as the sun, standing side by side at an unattainably high place, so high that the stars could be touched with a mere glance upward. The world trembled at their feet, and the rules bent to their will, pleading for their mercy.

I could become anyone.

This was the future that could be forged through a partnership between the most powerful psychics of the age.

I glanced at Sunflare standing next to me. He looked back with burning gold and red eyes, giving me a satisfied smile. The dragon unfolded his massive wings, showing me the boundless sky and what true freedom meant.

Longing to fly, I was just a step away from taking the leap. But… it was so cold.

It was only now that I noticed the biting chill in the howling wind. I rubbed my arms, trying to warm up, but failed miserably. A place high enough to touch the stars would naturally come with its own loneliness and freezing cold. As I shivered uncontrollably from the low temperatures, I could finally hear the faint sound I had been ignoring.

Looking down, I saw them… tiny, like grains of dust. The living beings at the bottom… crying out.

They struggled, fought, and tried to climb upward, but no one could reach it—not because they weren't strong enough. This tower was never meant for them—it was simply because they weren’t worthy.

I glanced at Sunflare again, and he didn't even understand what I was looking at. The stars sparkled behind him, and if I wished, I could stand at the summit, becoming someone everyone could only look up to.

Turning, I caught a glimpse of my own white tail—perfectly pure without a single blemish. Smooth, pristine fur, flawless to the point of seeming unreal.

Is that how you see me?

"My apologies, Master Sunflare," I said, meeting his golden-red eyes. "No matter what I might build, I want it to be among those who need me… not above them." I didn’t know where I found the courage to keep speaking. "I think we are fundamentally different people who can’t understand each other."

I braced myself for the towering dragon to explode in anger, but he merely shrugged and settled back into his… throne. Yes, just by moving, Sunflare added decor to his surroundings.

"You're still young, full of all kinds of sentimental, childish fantasies, but that’s fine. Everyone was young once." He blinked his nictitating membrane again. "After you spend a few more years wallowing in the real world, you’ll come back to me." He gave me a toothy grin, revealing a row of sharp white fangs. "Long-lived dragons are the most patient beings in the sol."

Once Master Sunflare allowed me to leave, I stood and resisted the burning gaze on my back as I made my way to the sliding door, more of a tactical retreat than anything else.

"Oh, and one more thing," he called, his voice filled with such genuine emotion that I didn’t dare look back. "I’m sure of it, Richter," he sang directly to my soul, resonating in the deepest part of me. "We are absolutely kindred spirits."